Nirvana's third studio album, 'In Utero,' is getting a plushy 20th anniversary reissue. The remastered 1993 album will include never-before-heard mixes of tracks like 'Heart-Shaped Box.' USA TODAY's Yohana Desta highlights the band's most memorable moments.

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Dave Grohl (left), Kurt Cobain and Krist NovoselicChris Cuffaro

Nirvana: The legend continues

In the early 1990s, Nirvana shook up the Seattle music scene with angsty grunge rock music. What followed was a movement that spread globally, creating copycat rockers who wanted to capture Nirvana's brand-new sound. The band's three unknowns, Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, went on to become the most famous rock stars of their day.

A remastered reissue of Nirvana's third and final album, 'In Utero,' will be released Sept. 24.

Kurt Cobain (left), Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic.Handout

1987

The very beginning

In 1985, a young Kurt Cobain strikes up a friendship with Krist Novoselic. Sensing musical kinship, the two begin to play in several bands together. Two years later, Nirvana is born, complete with drummer Aaron Burckhard. However, Burckhard doesn't stick, and is replaced by drummer Chad Channing.

Cover of album 'Bleach.'

1989

Debut album 'Bleach' is released

After recording a demo, the band is offered a chance to record its debut album with producer Jack Endino. Created for about $600, the album 'Bleach' is released June 15, 1989, on Sub Pop Records and sells more than 30,000 copies, a hefty amount for an indie debut. After a tour of Europe, the band returns stateside to record new tracks with producer Butch Vig.

The band signs to DGC Records and replaces Channing with a young drummer named Dave Grohl, formerly of D.C.-based band Scream. That, coupled with the fine-tuned production skills of Vig, solidifies the Nirvana sound: Seattle-grown grungey rock 'n' roll that alternates between quiet verses and loud choruses.

On Sept. 24, 1991, sophomore album 'Nevermind' is released.

The cover of 'Nevermind' featured a baby boy named Spencer Elden. His father, Richard, was friends with Kirk Weddle, the photographer hired to shoot the album's cover.

1992

Smells like teen spirit: How 'Nevermind' changed rock

What was supposed to be an underground sophomore album slated for a future as a cult favorite becomes the No. 1 album in the U.S.

First single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' becomes a hit song and an anthem, despite Cobain's claims in a 'Rolling Stone' interview that he was "basically trying to rip off The Pixies." The video is played repeatedly on MTV. Mainstream success is solidified with a controversial performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, in which the band stirs up a feud with Axl Rose, tries to play 'Rape Me' and destroys their instruments onstage.

'Come As You Are,' 'Lithium' and 'In Bloom' are released as singles, quickly climbing the charts.

Kurt Cobain (left), Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl.

1993

Reluctant rock stars

Nirvana is both surprised by and loathes its newfound celebrity, and declines to tour extensively after the explosion of 'Nevermind.' Cobain develops a reputation as a difficult rock star. He begins self-medicating his chronic stomach pain with heroin.

In concert, the band occasionally skips playing 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' "I don't even remember the guitar solo," Cobain tells 'Rolling Stone' of the song.

Alternative rock becomes the mainstream sound, and Seattle bands such as Pearl Jam are marketed as Nirvana clones, much to Cobain's dismay.

After dating for a couple of years, Cobain weds his girlfriend, Courtney Love, lead singer of Hole. They marry on Feb. 24, 1992, at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii; Love wears a dress once owned by actress Frances Farmer, and Cobain wears green pajamas.

On August 18, 1992, Love gives birth to the couple's first and only child, Frances Bean Cobain. Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M., is named the godfather. The couple temporarily lose custody of their daughter when 'Vanity Fair' reports that Love used heroin in the early weeks of her pregnancy.

Kurt Cobain strums his guitar during Nirvana's set for MTV's 'Unplugged.'MTV

1993

Nirvana gets 'Unplugged'

Nirvana memorably performs for MTV's 'Unplugged' series. According to MTV, Cobain keeps his guitar plugged in anyway because he's "uncomfortable" with the acoustic sound. The set list consists of six covers and eight originals, including 'About A Girl,' a song from 'Bleach.' The performance drives the old song to the top of the modern rock charts.

Cover art for 'In Utero.'

1993

'In Utero'

'In Utero,' the band's third and final album, debuts at No. 1 on the 'Billboard' album chart. The album, produced by Steve Albini (of Big Black band fame), reinforces Nirvana's image as arbiters of the alt-rock music scene.

Singles 'Heart-Shaped Box' and 'All Apologies' fare well on the charts.

An April 8, 1994, photo of the home Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love shared. Cobain committed suicide in the home.AP

1994

Death of a rock star: Cobain fades to black

On April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain is found dead at his home in Seattle; an electrician working on the premises discovers his body. Police reports conclude that Cobain died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

An emotional Courtney Love reads his suicide letter to hundreds of mourning fans. In the note, Cobain writes: "Remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away," a lyric from a Neil Young song titled 'Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black).'

Nirvana's 'MTV Unplugged in New York' album is the band's first posthumous release. It tops 'Billboard' and wins a Grammy Award for best alternative music performance.

Krist Novoselic (left) and Dave Grohl.Chris Pizzello, AP

1994-2013

Where are they now?

After Cobain's death, Grohl and Novoselic disband Nirvana.

Grohl immediately begins recording a 15-song demo. He soon gets a record deal and forms the Foo Fighters, where he serves as lead singer and guitarist. Seven albums later, Foo is a stadium-touring, Grammy-winning, platinum-certified rock act.

Novoselic forms a few short-lived band. He and Grohl remain close, and he performs with Foo Fighters on a handful of occasions and records bass for the Foo track 'I Should Have Known.' He also gets political, creating a political action committee called JAMPAC (Joint Artists and Musicians) in 1995, and serving as chair of the electoral reform organization FairVote since 2008.

In 2013, Grohl and Novoselic record a song called 'Cut Me Some Slack' with Sir Paul McCartney. The trio have performed the song together twice live, causing fans to nickname the group 'Sirvana.'